August 9, while various club members were parking cars for Annual One Design, five boats ventured out for the race to Cape Charles. (Ishky Baha, Nanuq, Nereid, Orion, and Trilogy).  With winds forecasted to be light, we agreed to start from G3 off Milford Haven.  We all anchored with our mains up.  At 930 hours, we raised anchors and sailed off to Cape Chuck.  We all jockeyed for position trying different sail configurations: wing and wing port side, jibe and try the other.  After an hour of top notch sailing, we had moved north about ½ mile. Nye a breath yet there was a current.  Things turned around when the iron lungs came out and our minds shifted from sailing to making port and spinning yarns.

Cape Charles was abuzz with the news of our pending arrival so they threw an “arts in the park” event to welcome us.  We strolled the town, enjoying the ice-cream shop, wine and chocolate tasting, and the great Watson’s Hardware store.  Elvis Presley was playing in the street along with an Asian Roy Orbison.  What?  Sweet Dreams, Baby.  Back to the docks forcomradery and to find another boat had joined us, Ricochet out of the Mobjack.   We shared drinks and snacks on the dock before scattering to the fine local eateries.

August 10, we all left at various times after enjoying breakfast in town or sleeping in.  We were able to sail most of the way on a nice SE wind.  Nanuq fell under water cannon fire from Ishky Baha along the way.  Back at the club, we congregated on the middle dock to award Nanuq the Wee Dram trophy, a vile bottle of Laphroaig, for her sportsmanship efforts in assisting another boat to harbor.  Many had a taste.

All in all it was a great event, the goals having been achieved.  1.  Destination event for all Offshore Fleets to enjoy.  2.  All crew slept aboard.  21 souls attended, 5 of them women.  Age difference between oldest and youngest was 66 years, not counting the wee ones on Ricochet.

There was short notice for this non-spin race / cruise.  At least 30 people personally told me they loved the idea and would have liked to have joined us but had prior commitments. We will try to schedule another for next year.

Ah, the peat!